Trump Faces Growing GOP Revolt Over His Russian Diesel Deal

President Donald Trump confronts growing opposition within his own party to his deal with Vladimir Putin on Moscow’s exports of diesel, reached just weeks after he signed a law authorizing stiff sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil.

Twelve senators, including six Republicans, wrote to Trump on Tuesday urging him to rescind the deal and instead enforce the new sanctions law, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

The deal “damages American security interests and is a betrayal of the people of Ukraine, who continue to defend themselves from Putin’s murderous, illegal war,” they wrote. “For decades, America has stood as the bastion of freedom against tyranny, and American presidents have embodied our nation’s resistance to tyrants.”

Explainer: Is Trump’s Plan to Import Diesel From Russia Legal?

The letter, led by Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina, was also signed by former GOP leader Mitch McConnell and fellow Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Cornyn of Texas, and Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma.

Other Republicans have also come out against the deal, including Jerry Moran of Kansas.

Trump, asked Tuesday about Republican opposition, reiterated his support for Russian diesel exports and emphasized they would bring relief to world markets.

“That’s a diesel deal that’s going to be released into the world, for the world market, because the world market suffered with high prices, and when you knock out diesel refineries, that’s not a great thing,” he said.

Trump told reporters Monday that Republicans who oppose the deal “can’t really be serious” and said he likes “anything that can help our farmers, our ranchers.”

The moves came as high diesel prices have Republicans at risk of losing Senate seats in midterm battleground states with high reliance on the fuel, including Collins in Maine, Dan Sullivan in Alaska and candidates in farm states like Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.